Assessment services

U of T is listening

From time to time, students may be invited to participate in one of several surveys or focus groups taking place across U of T. The University takes these results very seriously and uses them to help set priorities and make changes to enhance students’ experiences. If you are are student who is invited (via email) to participate, please respond promptly and honestly. Current projects include:

Assessment services

Assessment – through surveys, focus groups, interviews or other methods – is how we make sure our current programs are relevant and effective. It’s also how we identify unmet needs and develop new programs to address those gaps.

Student Experience staff members are well-versed in designing and implementing assessment projects, and can work with other University departments and student organizations to help with projects. We can also provide training in developing student learning outcomes and provide free access to an assessment service provider called Campus Labs: Baseline.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are the knowledge, skills, attitudes and habits of mind that students take with them from a learning experience (Suskie, 2009).

In 2008, the Office of Student Life started a project to develop a learning outcomes and assessment plan for the Division of Student Life Programs and Services. The purpose of the project was to make sure we were working in a coordinated manner that gave all students the opportunity to achieve specific learning outcomes during their time at U of T, and to increase our level of accountability for the programs and services we provide.

Survey protocol

These guidelines describe the process for accessing student data when assessing the effectiveness of student life programs and services or student needs with respect to services, programs or campus environment. The intention is to:

prevent survey fatigue through coordinated sampling methods

protect confidentiality through standards of practice, and

create a coherent body of knowledge among administrative units across the University with respect to the student experience.

Campus Labs: Baseline

Campus Labs: Baseline (formerly Student Voice) is a company that provides assessment tools, technology and programs to help make assessment projects in Student Life easy and achievable. Through the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students, Student Life staff in all colleges and faculties, as well as all central Student Life departments, have free access to these services. We also have several iTouches available to survey students at a particular site (at an event, upon entry to your office, etc.)